Developing a Decision-Making Framework for Collaborative Practices in Long-Short Distance Transport Interconnection

Abstract

During the last decade the European Union has developed a common transport policy framework as an overall strategy integrating sustainable development, including economy, land-use planning, social education and urban transport, as well as budgetary and fiscal, competition and research policy. Nevertheless a serious obstacle in achieving this strategy, is the lack of an integrated Decision-Making (D-M) framework for long and short distance transport interconnections, that takes into account the involved parties. The present paper attempts to overcome this barrier through proposing a rational and innovative D-M framework. In order to achieve so, the paper analyses the D-M framework that covers the interconnection of long and short distance transport networks, through the identification of the involved stakeholders, the review of relevant existing national regulatory framework and European legislation, the analysis of the planning and financial framework across Europe on the issue, the research and assessment of collaborative practices that enhance the coherence of the D-M processes in the domain of efficient interfaces of long and short distance transport networks and the introduction of D-M guidelines. The data collection relies on the creation of a pan-European stakeholder database, comprising of all interested parties, and an analysis is followed to demonstrated problems and gaps, as well as opportunities for better fertilization among actors, so that to enhance long and short distance interconnection.